By Sharon Omahen

University of Georgia

Personal computers topped the Christmas wish list of many
students this season, and, thanks to a Georgia 4-H program, 14
of them got their wish. Santa didn’t have to a pay a dime.

The Need-A-Computer Program began six years ago as the
brainchild
of Rachel McCarthy, a 4-H member in Walton County. She and her
father Jim refurbished donated computers for needy 4-H’ers in
her
home county. When she graduated, her sister Amanda inherited the
project.

Program goes statewide

In 2003, the Georgia 4-H Youth Technology Leadership Team
took
the project to the state level. The team awarded 20 computers
that year and 11 more in 2004.

“This year, we had 14 computers donated, primarily from
George
Walton Academy in Monroe,” said Cheryl Varnadoe, a University of
Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist and the technology
leadership team’s coordinator.

The team accepts computer donations all year and stores them
in a
room donated by Storage Mart. In early December, they refurbish
the computers for the winning applicants. This includes loading
them with licensed software programs.

“Most of the computers are two or three years old,” Varnadoe
said. “We don’t accept older computers because we want to give
the students computers that will be capable of running their
programs and pulling up the Internet.”

To apply for a free computer, students must be a 4-H member
and a
fifth- through eighth-grade student. The student must fill out
an
application and write an essay detailing why they want and need
a
computer. They submit letters of reference from their teachers,
pastors and community leaders.

This year, the tech team got 50 applications for the 14
computers. They reviewed and ranked the letters before selecting
the yearly winners. Finally, the week before Christmas, they
delivered the computers.

The winning students also write thank-you letters to the
program
donors and the 4-H technology leadership team.

Touching lives, helping students

Scanning the thank-you letters, Varnadoe reads notes that
unveil
each student’s story.

“Amanda from Fitzgerald says she’s always wanted a computer
and
is deeply honored that she was chosen,” Varnadoe said. “Kevin
from Alma feels fortunate to have been selected and says his
computer is ‘the coolest.’ Jackson from Walton County says
getting his computer is a dream come true, and he promises to
take care of it so it will last for years.”

Varnadoe said one computer went to a student whose single
mother
shares a household with another single mother. Between the two,
they’re raising eight children without fathers.

“One child’s parent is disabled,” she said. “Another’s
parent is
mentally challenged.”

Last year, the technology team awarded a computer to a blind
student. The local Lions Club donated the equipment needed to
convert the computer to a braille system.

Members of the 4-H technology team or collegiate 4-H’ers
deliver
the computers to the local UGA Extension office. The 4-H agent
then takes it to the student and helps him or her set it up.

“Jim McCarthy also volunteers his time to serve as the
students’ personal tech support,” Varnadoe said. “This way, they have
a troubleshooter they can call for help.”

Donate your old PC

If you’re interested in donating a computer, it must have at
least:

* A Pentium III processor

* 256 megabytes of memory

* 20 gigabytes of hard drive space

* A Windows 98 or later operating system.

Computers should include a 15-inch or larger monitor,
keyboard
and mouse. They should be Internet-ready, but don’t have to have
modems.

“We want the students to be able to use the computer to
access
the Internet,” Varnadoe said. “Modems are inexpensive, and many
county offices have generated local funds to buy modems for
their
winning student.”

For more information, or to apply for the 2006 Need-a-
Computer
program, see the program’s Web site,
www.georgia4h.org/public/edops/techteam/default.htm.